In a recent development, the Supreme Court has issued a stern warning to Patanjali Ayurved, co-founded by yoga guru Ramdev, cautioning against the dissemination of “false” and “misleading” claims in its advertisements regarding the efficacy of its medicines. The caution comes in response to a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), alleging a smear campaign against the vaccination drive and modern medicines by Patanjali Ayurved.
The Supreme Court had previously issued notices to the Union Health Ministry, the Ministry of Ayush, and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd on August 23, 2022. The IMA had raised concerns about a purported smear campaign led by Ramdev, criticizing the vaccination drive and modern medical practices. During the recent hearing, the Supreme Court bench, consisting of justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra, urged Patanjali Ayurved to cease publishing misleading advertisements related to modern medical systems.
The apex court emphasized the gravity of the issue, stating that all false and misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved must cease immediately. The bench warned that any violations of this directive would be taken seriously. Furthermore, the court hinted at the possibility of imposing a substantial fine of Rs 1 crore on each product if the company continues to make false claims about its medicines’ curative properties for specific ailments.
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court expressed concern over misleading medical advertisements, prompting the bench to call upon the Union government’s counsel to find a remedy for the issue. The court underscored the need to address various companies’ misleading claims regarding their medicines’ curative effects.
The Supreme Court is set to resume the hearing on the IMA’s plea on February 5 of the following year. The court had previously reprimanded Ramdev for his criticism of allopathy and allopathic practitioners, emphasizing the need for restraint in disparaging other systems of treatment.
In its plea, the IMA highlighted numerous advertisements that allegedly portrayed allopathic doctors negatively. The association claimed that these commercials suggested that medical practitioners themselves were succumbing to illnesses despite using modern medicines. The IMA argued that such advertisements and other disparaging statements were part of a concerted effort to discourage vaccinations, including the COVID-19 jab drive, and the use of allopathic medicines in the country.
The latest development is that Baba Ramdev hosted a press conference, during which he explained that his company made no false claims; we have clinical evidence. Unfortunately, we find ourselves alone in this battle, as the allopathic pharmacy industry is a massive billion-dollar industry that is against us.
